Test - Low Light Section

Low Light ()
The Panasonic Lumix FZ5 performed adequately in low light, particularly given the camera's general difficulty in suppressing noise. Below is a progression of exposures taken in a controlled studio environment, with diminishing light levels. The exposures are recorded without the assistance of a flash, using the camera's highest available ISO rating. The low light test is designed to assess the camera's responsiveness to light and the resulting noise that will be present under specific light increments.

We display four exposures of our GretagMacbeth color chart, captured under light levels of 60, 30, 15, and 5 Lux. These settings aim to replicate common low light conditions; 60 Lux roughly equates to a moderately lit bedroom, while 30 Lux is about a single bulb, and 15 Lux and 5 Lux illustrate the camera’s ability to record in actual darkness (very minimal illumination). The sequence is designed as a tool or reference point for potential consumers or intrigued photographers to illustrate the camera’s boundaries.

The grouped progression below shows four GretagMacbeth color charts that have been run through Imatest Imaging Software. Each chart represents the camera’s performance at a different light level. The settings used to record each image were fixed; all four images were shot on the Program setting using an ISO 400 rating to isolate the camera’s capabilities. The chart breaks down in the same manor as in the previous Manual and Automatic Noise sections of the review: for each color tile, the external shade is the color produced by the camera, while the interior vertical rectangle is the ideal. The middle box is the camera’s produced hue digitally corrected by the software.

As you can see, the FZ5 is not designed for low light usage, though it does seem to handle marginal conditions and capture images in sparse lighting. Although the image quality is drastically compromised as the available light is reduced, images recorded at 60 and 30 Lux both hold up strong in terms of tonal reproduction. The loss of color accuracy, as well as a drastic increase in noise really becomes pronounced when the usable light is reduced from 30 Lux to 15 Lux. At 15 Lux, the image is consumed with noise and displays a significant drop off in color accuracy. Like wise, when the available light drops from 15 Lux to the bare 5 Lux, the image is rendered virtually unidentifiable. Although most users will not shoot for detail under 5 Lux, the image speaks of the camera’s ability to record a night skyline or capture a facial expression under a distant street lamp.

The low light section is designed as an evaluation of the imager and its ability to capture images in minimal lighting. While many users will opt for the reliable flash exposure, film enthusiasts and appreciators of subtleties in shading (chiaroscuro) can determine from the charts above the camera’s limitations; how far the imager can be pushed before becoming completely inept and unusable. All-in-all, the FZ5 performed adequately in low light, particularly considering the camera’s in-ability to control noise in profuse lighting. While noise will be a recurring issue when using the camera, the ability to render strong color persists even in candlelight.

Reviews   |   About DCI   |   Staff   |   Advertising   |   Sitemap   |   Report an Error